Metformin Hydrochlorides

[robgardner]

Being recently diagnose as diabetic requiring medication I have been prescribed Metformin Hydrochloride 500mg 3 times a day and have been taking them since Christmas 2012.
Since taking them I have had been experiencing stomach pains and diahorrea plus a severe loss of appetite which has been getting more severe over the 3 months I have been taking the Metformin, a few day ago I took the decision to stop the medication for a while because the stomach pains & diahorea had became unbearable and I felt I had to deal with it quickly.
Since stopping the medication I found that the stomach pains has receeded the diahorea has stopped my appetite has returned but my blood sugar level has not really gone up.
My Question is has anyone else suffered a similar experience when taking the Metformin? because my Dr tells me that other medication for dabetics has worse side effects and my current medication is the best for me.
I would appreciate it if any one could help.

 

[Daibell]

Are you on Metformin SR (Slow Release)? If not your DN should have switched you over to this as the plain version does cause diahorea in many people. Metformin does reduce your appetite (it started life as a diet pill!). The other diabetes pills do not have worse side effects but they do have different mechanisms. Gliclazide is very commonly prescribed and is best for those who are not overweight and have an underperforming pancreas. Sitagliptin is another one that extends insulin production after meals. There are also the glitazones which can increase water retention as aside effect. If you are overweight then Met is the best first drug; do try to get the SR version if not on it already.